Dr. Bonnie Henry says 'new game' with Omicron variant could signal end of COVID-19 pandemic

B.C. Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry said the record-breaking surge of COVID-19 cases in the province could eventually lead to a stage where the virus becomes endemic.

The province is going through its worst spike in infections yet, driven by the more infectious Omicron variant, with the 4,383 cases recorded on Thursday marking an all-time record number for daily cases.

In a year-end interview with CBC News, Henry said Omicron’s spread was “unexpectedly fast” for the province’s health authorities, calling it a “new game” of the pandemic.

She introduced gathering restrictions in response to the province’s fifth wave, on Dec. 17,